A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture in Japan on the afternoon of the 28th of July, killing 13 people, while rescuers continue to search for missing people, writes the BBC.
The earthquake damaged buildings and roads, forcing the suspension of rail traffic and forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes. Three of the dead were in the Aeon supermarket in Kashima, where the second-floor floor collapsed. Video from the scene shows white smoke rising from the store building and people running to the parking lot. Part of the supermarket’s decoration has been blown away (possibly as a result of a gas explosion) and steel beams are visible. Eight people have been rescued from the rubble of the store, but it is not known how many are still trapped. The number of people still missing could be lower than the initial estimate of 20 to 30, according to NHK.
Aeon is a popular supermarket chain that operates about 160 stores across Japan. They include grocery stores, clothing stores, pharmacies and cafes.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanya Takaichi expressed her condolences to the families of the victims and thanked emergency services for their efforts. She said on the morning of the 29th of July that it was a race against time.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) measured the quake at a magnitude of 7.1,
while the U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude at 6.8. Earthquake magnitudes are often revised as seismologists receive and analyze new data.
The epicenter of the quake was at a depth of 10 kilometers, about 20 kilometers south of Kumamoto. NHK broadcast videos showed cracked roads and bridges and buildings on fire in several places. Trains were down and thousands of homes were without power.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on X that the earthquake caused no damage or posed any safety risks to the Sendai nuclear power plant, located about 100 kilometers from the epicenter. The plant is still operating, and the IAEA said it would continue to monitor it.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Monoru Kihara said reinforcements had been sent to the region, including the Japan Self-Defense Forces, firefighters and coast guard personnel. As aftershocks continued, 3,600 soldiers were deployed to deal with the aftermath of the earthquake. The JMA reported more than 60 aftershocks, ranging in strength from one to four magnitudes.
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